Not all that long ago, we decorated our way out of our Covid-era slumps with hits of kitsch: squiggly candlesticks holding similarly sinuous tapers, bookstacks in shades Mother Nature simply would never. ‘Gag’ decor still commands a pretty penny at certain downtown design stores here in NYC, but expert in all things timeless Shea McGee says it’s the one look she’d never attempt on her own coffee table for fall – or, actually, ever.
Most specifically, it’s picture frames (‘I would never put a picture frame on a coffee table because it needs to work from all sides!’ she laughs), but more broadly, ‘I tend to avoid anything that feels novelty-driven or made to imitate something it’s not,’ she tells . ‘Your coffee table is one of the most lived-in surfaces in the house, so I think it deserves materials with real weight, texture, and craftsmanship – not pieces that only look good for a season.’
Instead, Shea reaches for texture over autumnal motifs, decorating for fall without really ‘decorating for fall,’ as we’ve seen throughout her recent McGee & Co. collection. ‘I style it the same way I would any other time of year: a stack of books, something sculptural, candlelight, and then maybe one seasonal layer – a small gourd, a piece of dried greenery, or a beautiful bowl filled with something natural. It’s subtle, but it completely changes the feel of the room.’
Besides, novelty ages like milk. The squiggly candlestick eventually snaps because, really, it was never all that stable. That highlighter-yellow object is neither cool nor clever by month three. And before long, your coffee table is so busy being 'fun' that there’s nowhere left to put your coffee.
‘A coffee table is meant to be used,’ Shea continues. ‘It should hold a beautiful candle and your favorite books, but it should also have room for a cup of coffee or a board game with the kids. Choose pieces with intention, but don’t feel like every inch needs to be styled. The best coffee tables feel layered, but they leave space for life to happen.’
No picture frames here. Ahead, every coffee table essential Shea making room for this fall.
Snug space? I live in NYC. If I can make these coffee table styling ideas work in my small living room, you can make them work almost anywhere.
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